I re-position myself on the bed and sit Indian Style."Are they bad?"
He shakes his head."I don't think they are, but you could get angry depending on how you take it."
"Okay well I'll listen." To be honest, I hadn't expected him to say anything to me about it. Not for a while...Don was really trying. All this time I had gotten angry for him not telling me. But this had to be hard for him to get the guts to say, noting that he hasn't even told Archer the real reason they broke up.
He sits up on the couch as well."Well Cloud, Do you remember how we used to play as kids? Me, Archer, and You."
"Yeah."
He swallows."Well, do you remember how every other day you would ask could I bring the other kid down to play?"
I nod."The one in the window?"
"Yeah him."
"Mhm."
"Okay well me and him weren't really cousins...He's my brother."
My jaw drops to this shocking revelation."Y-You have a what?"
He clears his throat." A umm brother."
"What...But...How? Why couldn't he come outside and play with us? Why didn't you tell us?" Zius walks back out of the bathroom, turning off another light source that entered the room, and sits on the red leather couch.
"Because he-" I could tell that whatever he was trying to say was getting difficult. He looks over and throws a hand out towards him."...Got damn it you tell him!" Donnie yells.
Zius looks alerted and looks over at him."What? Why?"
"Because it's your damn story." He points out.
He sighs and does that intimidating grin."...Fine." He looks over with the same smile positioning himself on the couch to face me. "Cloud have you heard of those rumors that have been going through the halls about two brothers, one being a vampire, the other being a half one. And the whole story about what happened to their mom and the Father that turned into a jackass?"
Don's mouth drops when he finishes his explanation."Zius what the fuck? Don't tell him like that!"
"Yeah but..I still don't get it." I shift my eyes at the both of them and drop my shoulders.
He looks at back Don, ignoring my confusion."Well your taking your sweet time in telling him. I just thought I'd get it over with."
Donnie shakes his head out of disappointment."I'm never letting you tell anything to him again. I'll explain myself...Look Cloud-"
"Were those brothers."He says cutting him off mid sentence, leaving me and Don in the same expressions. Shocked.
It gets silent...Donnie and Zius are brothers...Maybe I didn't hear them right."...I don't think I heard you guys correctly. What?"
Don attempts to speak but is interrupted by Zius again."Me and this guy here, are brothers."
I drop my jaw slightly. Their brothers...What the hell. All I wanted in life was a normal life. Why did I have to get this? My life is so fucked up and twisted in so many ways that even my friends life is fucked up."...Your the brothers that everyone talks about?"
"Yep." Zius replies calmly.
"...And Don, your the one that everyone says stays on ground level?"
"Yeah." He replies while still nervous.
"So Zius...your the half vampire?"
"Yep."
I close my mouth and shift my eyes down at the bed. There the brothers in that rumor I heard about...Should I dare ask them if the rumor is true?...No I can't do that now. They've told me so much already so I'd rather not ask about it today. I look back up." So Zius you were the child in the window all those years?"
"Yeah." He replies back.
I smile slightly."So that's how you remember me?"
He nods."Mhm." He turns a little towards me."How do you think I remembered what your favorite fruit and dessert was?"
I shrug my shoulders lightly."I don't know. It was maybe when we would be outside eating our favorite snacks."
He nods."Yeah, You could eat some peaches."
Don smiles."Yeah you ate like 10 every week."
"Peaches are good. They smell good. There soft. And you get a small nut in the middle for you to plant it all over again. You can make things with it. Like crowns or belts."
Don chuckles and rolls his eyes."Oh gosh. I remember you doing that. Every other day you would make a belt and crown that looked the same as all the other ones and you kept saying that they weren't."
I smile."They weren't. They all have a different type of design and shape on them if you took the time to look closely." I cross my arms."Besides I was a kid."
Zius turns to Donnie." Don you cannot talk at all. You could also eat the hell out of some cheese and crackers."
I start to laugh and point while shaking my head."Oh! I remember that. Every day you would ask Grandma for some cheese and crackers. It had to be the spray cheese in a can on Ritz crackers."
Don crosses his arms."Whatever, they were good. I would make a mess as usual but I was a kid." Don looks up at me."So your not mad at all about this?"
I smile slightly." I told you Donnie in the nurses office. How could I ever be angry at you when you told me the truth?...And I do understand how hard it was to tell me this. So I apologize for pressuring you a lot for it."
"No you deserved the truth. I hid it from you and Archer for over 15 years. Besides, it's your personality. You can't help but want to know."
I wanted to say I didn't but I kind of did have that personality where if you hid a secret that I wanted to know. It's not a good thing either. I know that people hide secrets from people when they don't want to hurt the ones the love...Maybe I need to realize that some things are just harder than the other to tell that easily. I look over at Zius who is snickering slightly."Why are you laughing?"
"Because you really can't help but to know."
I cross my arms."Okay fine. I'll admit that I like to know some things but-"
"No you mean every secret." Zius interrupts.
I glare at him."...However I am willing not to ask about a secret that I know the two of you hold deeply." I drop my shoulders."Even though I've already heard about it." I look back up at them." But I haven't confirmed it with you guys that it's true...That's how much I'm willing to change."
Donnie crosses his leg on his other leg in a manly way. And puts his arm over the couch."No one said you had to change."
"But it's not a good thing to want to know every single thing. There are some secrets that need to only stay with you. And only with you." My thoughts go to my Mother...Damn it. He kept a secret all these years and now that I know the truth, I can also feel the hurt. Is this what they meant when they said that they keep secrets from people in order for them not be hurt. Something that my Father had been doing for years. He had kept a secret from me about My own mother dying and he told me that she had ran off with another guy. In a way, could my Father's problem be similar to Don's problem? When he told me that it was difficult to tell me about this knowing that it could possibly hurt me. I wonder is that how my Dad felt or did he really do it for himself?
Zius interrupts my thoughts."What's wrong?"
I look up."What?"
"Somethings wrong. You've got that sad thinking face on."
"I don't have a sad thinking face."
Donnie nods."You really do have a sad thinking face. Maybe you don't notice when you do it, but it's like a sad puppy in the rain."
I start to get embarrassed remembering what Zius did and he starts to laugh."See? Even he said it. Like a sad puppy in the rain."
I furrow my brows and drop my gaze back down at the bed." I don't have a sad puppy dog face and nothing is wrong with me."
I know how much I despise lying to people, but maybe just this one time is fine. I don't want to be a burden with my troubles knowing how much everyone is going through their troubles also. My problem isn't as serious as theirs. So I should stop thinking about it at the moment and just forget about it.
"And your sure nothing is wrong?" Donnie ask.
I nod."I'm fine. I was just thinking about something."
"That's good because no one like a sad puppy." Zius said teasing me again.
"Zius shut the hell up! Stop bringing that up!" I yell, throwing one of the pillows on his bed.
Well after yelling at Zius for a while about him bringing up that embarrassing moment, Donnie started to get curious of what we were talking about. I kept hitting him telling him not to say anything about it when I was or wasn't around and that I would tell Don later on...in life. It had started to get late and he left to go back down to the ground level. He said he would come and visit us every week and I told him the same, even though I still hadn't learned any spells on teleportation. But if only had I known that we would be learning about that 2 weeks later. Teleporting had become a lot easier. At first, it was difficult to do without scaring myself, but after multiple attempts, I had mastered it. I had finally caught up with the class on all of the spells that I had missed. It took a lot of work and concentration but it was finally done. The word started to get around that Mr. Harcko was getting engaged to a lovely women. Of course the girls were pissed and sad, some cried for weeks but the fighting about him stopped. The guys threw a secret party about it, which I attended. College parties are awesome. So throughout the weeks the girls pressured the professor about it. (I honestly don't know why the guy hasn't quit yet with all those girls on his back everyday) And he finally told them with a smile that it was our Personal Magic Teacher. Better known as the woman who doesn't stop talking on the phone and smacks on her gum like 24 fucking 7. Their personalities are very different. But I would rather not get into their love life, knowing that I have so much other shit going on right now.
Gym on the other hand, has been...better than I could of ever imagined. I managed to get a grade and still not participate in it. How I did it you ask? Me and some of the guys payed some of the bigger Supernaturals that were shapeshifters to come and be us for the period so we wouldn't get in trouble. That has to be the brightest idea we have ever came up with, plus the Coach hasn't caught on yet. Haha he's even impressed by the way "Fake Me." says yeah now. However it can get a little boring sitting under the bleachers doing nothing so we would usually get on our get on our phones. Genesis decided that would be the perfect time for us to talk so she said that I should skip that class. I'm not really fond of the idea but when she doesn't get what she wants. She can get a little cranky and grumpy. So I decided to meet up with her in the library. I have no idea why we chose that place when the librarian is always so strict. We meet up and talk about ways she can make up and get back together with Totter. She still likes him and we're constantly talking about their love life and how much fun they had. I think she is ready to talk to him but she is taking her sweet time about making a move.
Oh, but the reminds me of Liam. He has done so well over the last 3 months with Andrew. It's like a miracle. They talk on the phone almost every night and they meet each other every morning at the concessions, where Andrew works. In the beginning, we all kind of thought that Andrew couldn't be a homosexual. But that was only until when me and the guys were walking and we saw him place his hand around his shoulders while we were walking and Liam hesitated at first but returned the gesture of placing his arms around the small of his back. Now it could be just a friendly gesture but I don't know how much you see that with just between friends especially when your both guys. Haha you should of seen him, he was so happy when we go to our dorm. He tried to act like he didn't care in front of the guys but when we got behind close doors. He nearly passed out. All you heard every 3 seconds was:
"I can't believe he did that! I can't believe I did that!"
And the, next minute:
"He probably doesn't even like me back and I'm being a stupid about all of this..."
So that's how that night went.
Me and the guys had gotten closer and as usual you couldn't see one of them without seeing them all, so that was still a funny coincidence. Aiden had gotten a small job in the front office, doing some paper work. That takes about 2 hours and a half, so we don't see him until he's finished. Callen is still his pouncing excited and crazy self. He still gets on Liam, Owen and Aiden's nerves 24/7. It's like his job. Owen recently finished a class on upgrading his scythe. Oh and remember how Liam, Callen and Owen says he acts when he gets drunk? Well the guys and I decided a few weeks ago that we go out and have fun. Fortunately, we didn't have to go on ground level to get some drinks because our College partier addict, Owen. Had stashed some liquor and vodka in his room under the carpet. Now I've never been a drinker, I may have a little every 2 years so I wasn't to keen on the idea when he showed up with that stuff. Me and Liam were telling them we shouldn't do this while surprisingly Aiden was on the side with Owen and Callen. After a little convincing, I agreed to drink a little if Liam did too. But I forgot that he doesn't get drunk of this kind of stuff so the guys went a got a whole cup of cream for him. Which gave Liam the giggles all night. Callen wanted to do back flips when he could barely stand. Owen wanted to do dumb shit every single second...like we were on Jackass for a moment. Aiden got sicker than the rest of us. He kept complaining of his stomach hurting and he kept trying to stand up. And me...Ugh they basically said I complained and laughed the whole time too...The only down fall about me getting drunk...Is that I tell about my problems. They told me I wouldn't stop talking about...Zius. They said I talked about our childhood, how much we fought, how much we irritated each other and my big mouth even leaked...about the puppy thing. I'm not sure if they remember that part so I won't ever bring it up.
Donnie visits Zius and I on Fridays. I told him I couldn't deal with his brother for months at a time without him being here to scold him. When I scold him, I don't think he takes me seriously anymore. He used to listen but now he kind of teases me before he stops. The guys and some friends of mine suspect something, but I keep telling them that me and him will never be anything more than...whatever the hell we are. Frenimies, friends, old friends. Whatever. I think Zius is thinking the same thing as I am because of that night when I heard that talk with Donnie about him possibly loving someone. I'm not exactly sure if it is someone here or if they are even a girl...But he can't be that at all...He never talks about his sexuality nor does he really talk about loving somebody. He rejected that he liked them in more than a friend way so I guess we all just left it at that...But recently some of the girls in Mr. Harcko's class have started to get over him and move to someone else. Zius. He brings me to my first class each morning. My friends ask about him and ask me to ask if he's single. It can be frustrating sometimes with girls always on your back asking if your friend is single. Genesis has my back and tells them that they should stop because Zius obviously doesn't care about them if he hasn't said anything yet. I want to believe that he doesn't care by his movements. He looks at me when they talk to him but he does smile when he sees my face when were around them...Damn I shouldn't let stupid things like that bother me.
Well Archer still doesn't know about all of this. And I know that if Donnie had the guts to tell me then he should be able to tell Archer the same way...It'll be difficult but I know that he can do it. When I learned that Archer still had faith in him I knew that he would be angry but he would forgive him. Donnie came up to the school a few months go, and he let me know something that I knew deep down already.
"I-I.." He drops his gaze down at the concrete. His eyes were starting to get watery, the moonlight shining on them making it seem that much sadder. His eyes looked like he had been longing something or someone. He pushes his black hair back from his eyes and reveals something shocking to me. Something that I knew I could possibly hear one day, yet I wasn't ready for it." I-I..I still love him. I've always loved him. I've never stopped...He means so much to me. And the way I hurt him...He didn't deserve any of that...He went through 4 years thinking that I had forgotten him but...I..I can't tell you how much I missed him.
I hugged him as he continued to say how much he missed him. I could feel the words. I could feel how much he had loved him. His hug was tight as he closed his eyes and mumbled those words to himself. I told him he had to tell him soon or Archer wouldn't listen or worse. He could find someone else. Someone else who he thought loved him. If only he knew how much Don had loved him all these years...Well unfortunately, the day for Don to admit his feelings to Archer hasn't come yet. But I have faith in him that he'll make a move. All these years I've tried to get them back together and now. My work is done. It took a little pressuring but Don really does still love Archer, and now it's Donnie's turn to do his part. He needs to tell him how he feels. Even though the rule is at stake of being broken and Donnie being caught is a little high. He should be able to be happy without them worrying about a rule. Even if it his Father's rule. I'll make sure that he doesn't find out...At whatever cost Liam and Donnie should be happy.
"You alright?" Zius interrupts my thoughts. His hair blew lightly in the chilly winter air. It was beginning to get a whole lot chillier around this time especially when were this high up in the sky.
"I'm fine." I look back at the bag he was carrying on his shoulder. It contained books from my classes and papers that needed to be turned in. Even with me being organized I still can't manage to get everything to fit right."Are you sure you an handle my bag?"
"Mhm. Why do you have so much stuff?" He readjusts the leather strap on his shoulder.
"Obviously because I need all of that stuff. Even with everything being organized it still is hard to handle at times."
"Damn and I got you a new bag thinking it would work...How about a bigger bag?" He suggests.
I look over."No, Do you know how long it took you to persuade me that I should let you get me a bag?"
He rolls his eyes halfway."About 4 months."
"So what makes you think that I would let you get me another bag?" I touch the black leather on the straps."Their to expensive."
"And it's not like money's a problem...You should really let people help you."
I look back up at him."What's that mean?"
"You don't allow people to do nice things for you." He looks over at my confused face."Okay for example, when we first met by the side of the school. I offered to buy you one of the phones I have and you rejected it."
"Dumbass that's the point. We had just met, I didn't know who you were, we had gotten into a brawl, and it was too expensive. The phone is like one- thousand. And I don't know if you know, but that's a lot of money to me, even if you don't think it is."
He readjust the leather strap again, leaving both his hands their this time."Will you ever let me buy something for you?..." He grins as soon as he sees me start to stutter over my words."...I doubt that you remember the last time you received a gift from someone."
My eyes shift down to the gray concrete. Let me think...The last time I allowed someone to buy me a gift was...It had to be either Donnie or Archer...Maybe it was My Father who was the one who had gotten me something. He used to give me money every month to help me pay for books and things, but now I haven't heard from him in the past 2 months. He would call my cell every week, I assume trying to know what was going on. Also, I would see him number pop up on the screen, but I couldn't answer it. Maybe it was because I was frightened of what he say or because I was still angry. I don't know. All I know is that I don't want to see him right now. Zius notices how I would look at my phone and ignore it. He never asked who was calling nor did he know about the whole Mother and Father situation. It's not that I didn't want to tell him it's just that some things need to stay with me and only me. Donnie and Archer knew about My Father sleeping around and all, but they didn't know about what really happened to my Mother...Which reminds me. I haven't been having any more of those scary nightmares. They stopped when I arrived here. Now the only dreams I have are about normal things, mainly about me being around my friends and just having fun. I don't know how I did it. But I'm glad that they've stopped for now.
"...Does getting money from a relative count for anything?" I look down at the concrete, placing one foot down in front of the other.
He gives off a small grin."No that doesn't count at all. Getting money from a relative doesn't count for anything because their your family. And Families do things like that."
I nod my head slightly in agreement. That was a stupid question."It's not that I don't like accepting anything from anyone. It's just that sometimes I don't feel like I deserve things from people."
He looks over at me and I looks at him through my peripheral vision. I knew he was going to ask why."And why is that?"
"Because.."I continue placing one foot in front of the other."Just their company is enough for me. And them being a good friend too. That's why I've always been hesitant to just take things from people." I thought he left it at that but I look over at him, to the sound of snickering. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion."Why are you smiling?"
The smile on his face showed his nice smile. His smiles had become a whole lot warmer and meaningful over the months. Like he was really enjoying himself. He shakes his head and continues walking, his hand still on the strap.
"Zius...Come on, tell me. Your always laughing at me." I look over at him.
He brings a hand up to cover his smile."It's nothing."
I cross my arms over my warm coat and I start to play pout."You always laugh at me...And I never know why."
He looks over and brings his hand down, making me realize the whole reason he had his hand up to his mouth. He was smiling but I could also notice some pink in his cheeks. I had never seen him flustered before."...It's...just that was sort of..." He say the last word but I couldn't make it out.
I continue pouting and kicking pebbles as we walked."I can't even hear you." He says it again, but looks away in the opposite direction when he says it."...Zius it's fine you don't have to tell me-"
His voice gets a little louder."Cute...I said your response was cute."
It takes me a moment to understand what he said, but then it starts to sink in." C-Cute?"
He refuses to look back in my direction."Yeah. About why you don't accept gifts from a lot of people."
"Oh..."I smirk."So you called me cute?"
His head turns immediately towards me, showing his slightly pink glowing face. It makes my face start to heat up and I immediately looks back down at my feet."Don't get ahead of yourself. No one ever called you 'Cute'. All that was said was that your response was cute."
I look back up at him and lightly punch him in the arm."Your so mean Zius. I'm not getting ahead of myself...I am cute."
He shakes his head slightly, still walking like he wasn't affected by my puny hit."You can be so dumb sometimes. No one ever called you cute, but that doesn't mean that...that it's false."
My eyes search the concrete as I try to think about what he said. He was saying stuff in a way that I couldn't understand and I think he knew he was doing it like that too. I don't look back up as I go back to crossing my arms."And that means?"
"That you can be...I suppose...I guess...cute sometimes." He clears his throat and looks the opposite way again.
"Sometimes?"
"...Yes sometimes."
"And how do I act when I'm not being cute?"
He gives off a little chuckle."Stubborn and bossy."
I jolt when he says that and punch him lightly in the arm again."I am not-...Well I can be sometimes. But not all the time."
"Exactly because the other times your..."
I complete the sentence off for him."...Cute."
We both look at each other at the same time, my dark brown eyes meeting his dark red ones. We both look back down at the concrete with small smiles forming on our faces."Yeah."
I look at a passing tree, watching the autumn leaves fall off. Letting a minute pass by of nothing but silence I start to think of an compliment that I had been keeping secret for sometime."...Well I guess..." I knew what I was going to say, but I was hesitant on picking my words because of what I was going to admit. I've been thinking of this for a while now."...you have a nice smile and laugh."
He looks over, his hands in his pants pockets. He smiles."Do I?"
I nod, unsure of how my words will sound if I spoke. My cheeks start to get tingles in them again.
He smiles softly."And how long have you thought that?"
"..."I swallow my saliva and clear my throat."...For a while now."
He nudges me with his elbow."...How are they nice?"
I slightly turn my head."Zius, do I really have to explain this to you?"
"Mhm. And it better be reason too." He closes his eyes and nods."Go ahead."
"Zius, your going to fall if you close your eyes while walking."
He cracks one eye open."I'm not. Vampires have an excellent sense of direction. I won't fall, so go ahead." He closes it back." Say it."
I watch him hold his head up confidently with his eyes closed leaving me feeling a bit embarrassed and irritated. I sigh. What have I gotten myself into?..."Your smiles are...warm. They have lot's of life in them. Almost as if...you've never smiled before in your life and all of your...smiles got saved and bunched up before you let them go...I don't know Zius. I can't really explain it." My face becomes a darker pink.
With his eyes still closed, he shakes his head."No keep going."
"But I'm done."
"You forgot my laugh."
"Ugh Fine, Your laugh is like...a melody. There. New conversation."
He cracks his eyes open and I try to turn my head back down to the ground. He smirks."Could it be that you don't want to talk about it anymore because...your embarrassed?"
I shake my head, not sure if he could see or not."N-No...I just don't know how to put...it in words. Besides you were the one that was embarrassed."
He snorts."Me? Embarrassed? Just when I thought you couldn't get funnier. You always surprise me Jones."
The leaves start to blow off the brick pathway as I kick through little piles, mixed with different shades of fallen fall colors. My hair falls in front of my eyes."Since when did you start to call me by my last name?"
He does that grin that I despise of. It's the grin he does when he thinks he's right or about to prove a point. He stoops down beside my ear as we continue to walk."Because you said I couldn't use your middle name so now I'm going to use your last."
"And what privilege do you have to even use my name like that? Your like everyone else, so your going to say my first name like everyone else."
"Come on, you should know by now that I don't follow the rules like I'm suppose to."
I roll my eyes."Name one thing you've done that you weren't suppose to do."
He takes a hand out of his pocket and cups my ear to whisper."I've told you everything about the past that was never suppose to be mentioned."
Zius moves back and I'm left confused."About you and Donnie? But doesn't everyone know about the 'Rumor'?"
His dark red eyes shift up to the cloudy sky."Hmm...Not really." He looks back down."Well, your friends know some things."
I nod."You must mean about the brother thing."
"Yeah you- and your friends know about some things that I was never suppose to mention to anyone...We kept it a secret because Father didn't want anymore trouble than we already had. To many secrets were at risk of being leaked." He throws his hands in the air, bringing them back to hit his legs."We've already got what people 'think' is a rumor floating around in the halls...If it were to be announced that it's true then..."
I look up at him, completing the sentence."Then a lot of shit would go down."
He nods."A bunch of shit would go down."
We continue walking to my class, skimping through conversations and arguments. Ya know, the basic routine. I forgot how he ended up taking me to classes instead of Liam. I mean- originally it was because...I needed him to walk with me because-...He decided that we should walk together for-..I cast my eyes down at the passing old gum spots and leaves blowing. How did we end up walking together? Maybe I should ask Zius...
"Hey, Zius?" By this time, we were on my hall and getting off the elevator.
"Yeah?"
"How did we start walking together? To classes?" It wasn't that important. It was just something that I was curious about.
But I start to second guess that he knows when it takes him longer than 5 seconds to respond."Um... I can't recall how-..No wait a minute,...yes I can. Don wants me to watch you."
Oh How could I ever forget something like that?...Now that I remember it, I'm kind of irritated. Just 3 months ago, somehow they found out about what was going on with Liam. If I'm correct, they fount out when me and the guys were talking about it in Callen and Owen's dorm. Liam wasn't there during the time so I honestly don't know how he got on the topic. It was probably Callen who brought it up, talking about what a good job I had done. And how I was the cupid for this school. But being called Cupid all the time by your guy friends can be a little embarrassing sometimes so I kept denying it at first. The compliments about how I paired people up made me feel good about some things. On how I could convince that person that they should follow their hearts and all was the only reason that I would do things like that. Well I guess I have horrible fucking luck or something because it turns out the whole time while we were discussing what a good cupid I was. That Zius and Donnie were looking for me at that time and some friends of mine told them I had went to Callen and Owen's dorm. And basically they were at the door the whole time listening. So Unfortunately, they barged in and took me out of there. Had a little talk with me about not getting caught breaking their Father's rule. I tried to tell I wouldn't get caught, but he refused to listen to me and told Zius to watch me to make sure I wasn't being noticeable. But on the flip side, he allowed me to still help Liam and him out with their relationships, so that was the only good thing about that day.
"Oh yeah..." I look through the small rectangular glass window on wooden classroom doors." You guys act like you don't trust me. I'm not going to get caught."
He nears closer to me, making sure that no one can hear the conversation."It's not that we don't trust you. Besides if that was the case, we would of never of let you continue doing it."
"I just want people to feel happy. They shouldn't worry about rules or anything getting in the way of who they want." Don and Zius had decided that I could continue helping Liam and Donnie because they already knew that I wasn't going to stop helping until they were happy. So in the end they decided that I could continue helping, but...Zius would have to be around me more often making sure that I didn't accidentally leak anything and to keep an eye out. I can't believe I forgot something like that.
My hair gets a ruffle, causing me to close my eyes, and shrink in between my shoulders."I know you do. Which is why, we'll let you continue to do that. Because we know that you enjoy doing it. Even though we are in so many risks right now."
A smile comes upon my face, even when I should be upset that his hands were in my clean shampooed hair. But how could I be mad at him? Or Don? They were the Sons to the Dean to the school. Mr. Slaughter. The one that made up the 'No Cross Supernatural Rule'. So for them to give me just a chance to at least allow some people...it would make a smile appear on my face any day."...Thanks Zius."
His hands falls from my hair and he lightly shrugs, being as nonchalant as usual."It's no prob- ... " He smiles."I would be lying if I said it wasn't."
In unison, we both start to laugh at the little remark he added. Some students were still in the hall walking to classes that were about to start, so they were a little confused and startled when they heard us just bust out in laughter. We weren't even that loud, but I guess it could of been alarming to just hear that out of nowhere."...Haha, but Zius I'm being serious..."
He looks down at me and he taps my forehead. My reflex causes me to close my eyes."I know. That's why were letting you do whatever your little heart wants. And I guess on a level, whenever you happy. It makes me and Donnie happy."
I then realize that right after we stopped laughing and I was telling him how serious I was, that I was clinging onto his arm. I have no memory of intentionally grabbing his arm. Maybe I did it while we were laughing...This really makes that rumor about us sound true. I try to slide my arm back out of his, while trying not be noticeable of how embarrassed and flustered my face was. It was taking to long to walk to get to my class.
Successfully, I get my arm out without him getting suspicious and I make it to my class with a red face.
He brings the strap down from his shoulder and offers to put it around my shoulders. I don't object and lean forward, letting his put the leather strap around my shoulder."Thanks." I place my hands on the strap in front of my chest.
"I'll see you after classes." He places his hand on the long door knob and begins to turn it. He stops before he can push it open and he looks back. My eyes travel around his face in confusion for what he was doing.
"What?"
"...Just...Stay out of trouble." He says after a moment of silence.
"...What's that mean?" I look over to the clock. Good thing I had a extra 3 minutes.
"I mean- with the girls and all. About them pressuring you..about me." He looks through the window on the door, to see the girls smiling and waving at him. It causes him to shake his head and pinch the bridge of his nose.
"It's fine...It can be annoying sometimes." I place my hand on his shoulder." But I'm fine, besides it's normal for girls to do that."
He looks up, his hand still somewhat near his face."No, this is not normal. This is like desperation. First, the teacher and now a Superintendent. It's like the girls are attracted to people that work here."
I grin showing my pearly whites."Zius I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"...It's not even that." He looks towards me." You've been dealing with this for how long exactly?" My eyes fall to the floor, moving across as I search for an answer."...It's been longer than you can count Cloud."
I drop my hand from his shoulder. I furrow my eyebrows a little."But it's not like it gets on your nerves that bad."
His hand leaves it place in front of his face and it falls to it's side."...What do you mean by it doesn't get on my nerves?"
"...You always wave back and you show a smile too. And when they run up to you, they act like your some kind of fucking celebrity." I try impersonating them."'Can I have you signature for this pass?' or..'Your hair looks so nice, what shampoo do you use?'" I act like I'm going through his jet black hair.
After I'm done with my 'Alright impersonations', I wait for him to say something but he just is stuck there his eyes traveling across my face."...Cloud...are you jealous?"
I immediately shake my head."No I'm not jealous. I just..." I honestly don't know what to tell him. I can't just say stop talking to them or stop waving at them. Besides...that night Donnie said he thought Zius loved someone. It could be one of the girls in there, I mean it was around that time when the girls started talking to Zius. My eyes fall to the ground."I'm not jealous. I just want you to be happy too..."
"..." He doesn't say anything at first. Almost as if he's thinking.
I speak up again, thinking that maybe he was confused."I'm talking about...whoever you want to be with. Like one of those girls in there could be someone you like. But I don't want you to be stuck in the middle because your tired that other girls pressure me." I give off a small smile."If your looking for somebody in there then I can talk to them for you."
"..." It's like he's stuck or something.
"Zius..."
He starts to move forward, but he closes his eyes and stops himself. He leans back into his regular position and sighs."...Cloud, don't...don't say things like that."
My eyes continue to look in confusion."...But I was only saying what I thought-"
"No your so wrong right now that it's ridiculous...Just because I wave at them doesn't mean that I like them." He sighs."It's my job to be a superintendent to the students. Not to get into a relationship with them."
"Oh...so you don't like any of the girls in there, do you?" I point my finger towards the door.
A small smile comes across his face."I thought you were the cupid of the school. You can't mix up pairs that aren't good together."
I smile slightly."I'm sorry. I don't know why my brain came up with that reason."
He raises an eyebrow."Could it be that you were a little jealous?"
My face starts to heat up."Z-Zius don't flatter yourself. I'm not jealous at all. I was just stating what I thought."
He lets out a small chuckle and he abruptly brings me in for a hug."Your so naive."
I get adjusted to the situation and rolls my eyes. My face was in his suit jacket so I mumbled when I spoke."I'm not."
He sighs once more. I wonder why he's sighing so much. He sets his chin on my head."You really...really are." His voice had gotten softer.
He finally lets me go and allows me to walk in the class just as the bell rings. I'm glad no one from inside the class saw us but I'm not so sure about the people still walking around in the halls. I take my bag off my shoulder and sit down in my seat. I look back to see Zius waving at me. The girls in my class were looking at him and waving yet, this time was different. He didn't wave back at them, he just winked one of his eyes and made a impersonation of a gun, with the clicking of the tongue included. And that was all to me. I smile and wave awkwardly back at him as he closes the door.
The girls all sigh in unison as the doors close. On the other hand the guys are all angry about the situation knowing that now they didn't have to deal with a teacher but now they had to deal with an Superintendent now. I don't see why these guys won't give up on these girls. It's like a feast for them. When they see all the nice food they start to drool and fight over it and then when all the good and hot food is gone. They skimp and pick over the ones that they know they can get. I sighs under my breath and lean down to get my pen and paper.
Someone walks up beside me and takes a seat."Hey."
I look over, unaware that it's the only girl in the class that I actually enjoy talking to."Oh hey Genesis."
Genesis was one of the only girls who had come to their senses after the whole teacher- love incident. She had decided that she only loved one guy and his name was Totter. Totter was a nice fellow. He had dark black hair with black tips. I thought it was kind of cute of how they had the whole color in their hair thing together. Anyways, over the months the two's bond have grown stronger. Now whenever their together their inseparable. It's really cute. Their relationship hasn't been continued, yet because Genesis wants to see how long they can go without someone breaking and asking can they go back out. By this time, I knew she was ready, but now they were just fucking with each other."So..." She smiles." Wanna explain?"
I don't look back over, instead I continue writing the lesson that I saw on the board."What are you talking about?"
She leans on her hand and raises and eyebrow."You know exactly what I'm talking about Cupid."
I smile and look over."Cupid?"
"Yeah don't think that I haven't heard from your friends. Somethings going on with that Superintendent and you, isn't it?" Genesis was that type of girl who liked to prove points and not be proven wrong. But today she was wrong.
I shake my head."Nothing is going on. I recently found out that he's an old friend, so of course our 'Friendship' is going to strengthen."
She starts to smile."Oh I never knew that 'Just friends' grab each other's tie and drag them around like a puppy."
I drop my pen on the paper."T-They told you about that?"
She nods."Mhm. Care to explain that?"
"...W-We were playing." And that was the best answer that I could give...I've never been a good liar..
"It seems like flirtatious playing if you ask me." She spins around in the seat, facing the teacher."Wouldn't you agree?"
My cheeks are probably getting tired of me. I feel the red start to rush up to them."...No I wouldn't because we aren't in any type of romantic relationship."
After a moment passes, I thought she was done accusing me of stuff. So I continue to work until she hits the desk causing my heart to drop down to my stomach."I got it!"
I look over at her after I almost fell out of my seat."W-What!?"
"...He likes someone else?...Doesn't he?" What is she reading my mind or something?
I swallow hard and put myself back in my regular position in the wooden desk."Genesis, Do we really have to talk about this?"
She starts to cheese hard, showing her white teeth."I knew it...So...Are you jelly?"
I sigh and put my head on my desk, as I mumble out words."...No I'm not jealous. I just want him to be happy with whoever he chooses- but he won't tell me who it is."
The smile fades into a smaller one."And what if it's you?"
I close my eyes and shake my head."I highly doubt that it's me, besides he doesn't even go that way and neither do I."
She stops speaking which makes me think that maybe she has gotten a clue, so I lift my head up halfway and peek over my arms. And she is still there with he mouth slightly open."...Cloud your not gay?"
"No..." I sit up more, my forearms still on the desk."Did you think I was?"
"I mean-...Well yeah I did. But you do understand why I thought that? Right?"
I shake my head, still shocked at her statement.
"Well, you do a lot of feminine things." She points out.
I furrow my eyebrows."I don't. I do a lot of manly things."
She raises and eyebrow."Cloud, you skip gym. Something manly guys love."
I shake my head."That doesn't count. There are tons of guys that hide under the bleacher doing gym. I'm just not the strongest guy in there and neither are the people that hide with me."
She sighs."Okay fine, How about when you help me with my problems?"
My eyes shift to my paper and then back at her."Alright...But it's normal to help people with their problems. I don't have to be a girl to do it."
"...What about the Cupid thing? You don't get mad when people call you it."
I smile."I mean- well of course it's going to be embarrassing, but people get called nicknames all the time. I don't mind."
Her eyes travel across my face. She was running out of ideas, and that was good. Until she opened up her mouth once more."...The puppy thing."
As soon as I try to find an excuse for it, the only thing I can think of is that we were playing. But who in the hell plays like that? And now that she pointed it out, it did kind of seem like flirtatious playing...No but he teases me all the time so maybe I'm still the only one who thought of it as something more."...We joke like that a lot."
She snorts, but in a cute way."So your telling me that it's normal for you guys to pull each others ties and get close to each other face. To the point it looks like your going to-"
"Okay Okay...I'll admit that it's not normal, but I can tell you from what I know. That he isn't gay or bi or whatever...He's straight and so am I." I interrupt her again before she says something."And...I know this because that night he and...a friend of his were looking at pictures on their phone. His friend asked did he like this person and he said no. And I'm not on his phone so I know that it wasn't me, plus he kept denying that he liked the person on the picture."
"So, how does this tell you if it was a girl?" She continues to lean on her hand."It could of been a dude."
"...N-No...Well I never did hear about if it was a girl or not..." My eyes shift around at the floor in wonder. Could he be?...
She nods."Now are you starting to question his sexuality?"
I look back at my paper and pen."...I-I don't know. Maybe...Do you think I should talk to him about it today?"
She shrugs her shoulders."You should talk to him when you feel like it. I don't want to rush you and make you ask him today...Plus now that I know you not gay. You shouldn't want to rush it anyways."
I slowly nod and turn back to my pen and paper. I couldn't even work right now, the only thoughts that rushed through my head were 'Could he possibly like a guy?' and if he did 'Then who?'. I really shouldn't be worrying about this. I've got way to many problems on my mind and me dealing with Zius love life on top of Donnie, Liam and Genesis is not the best thing for me right now. My studies are coming along good and grades too...I shouldn't even care, but because I'm his...'friend' then I should be able to talk to him about this. Yeah...and there shouldn't be any awkwardness in it either because me and him are both men and straight. Well one of us are...This might be a little harder than I thought.
The bell rings for the class to end, leaving an announced announcement to go over the intercom."Would Cloud Jones please report to the office?"
I look up at the ceiling as if he voice is coming from above."Ugh..What now?"
Genesis grabs her bag and her hand lands on my shoulder. She has a smile."You've been called to the office before?"
"No...I just don't want to make the 3 mile walk down there." I stand up and grab my leather bag.
"Oh my gosh! This bag is so fab! Where'd you get it!?" Her hands glide across the expensive black leather.
Just as I'm about to tell her, I remember exactly who got it for me...I don't even feel like saying his name."...It was a gift."
She drops her hands."Okay, well I'll see you later Cupid." She starts to walk towards the door, but stops."Oh don't forget, were not meeting in the library today."
I put my papers back in my notebook that I obtained for the class."Were not?"
My question makes her suck her teeth."Good thing I reminded you. There having some kind of lunch meeting with the Superintendents. So that means you can skip 2 classes with..." She clicks her tongue twice and points to her self."This gal."
I smile."Your nuts. I can't skip 2 classes in a row...I mean what are we going to do for 3 hours?"
She shrugs and puts her bag on her shoulder."Whatever we want to do. How about we go to the pool and swim or we could go and eat at the concessions? What do you think?"
"Whatever your happy with then I'll go along with it." Well whatever I said made her squeal. Girls are weird sometimes. I grab my bag and throw it on my shoulder and as I'm about to exit the class and take the long trip down to the office, I hear a voice call out to me.
"Mr. Jones...Do you have a minute?" I turn around, my hair swiftly turning a second later after."I know you have to scurry along to the office, but I need to have a word with you."I stick my head out in the crowded hall and look at the clock. Alright I've got a good 5 minutes, I guess we can talk...Not like I had a choice anyways."Could you shut the door?"
I lightly shut the door, the click following. I walk over near him and have a seat at a nearby desk."...Is something wrong, Mr. Harcko?"
He nods. His hair was in a ponytail as usual. His hair always did look nice, like a silky type. I'm startled out of thoughts when he starts to talk."Well, it's about your friend."
My face becomes perplexed, making me sit up in my seat."My friend?"
"Yes um...Red headed girl...Ginger?" He makes a guess but I get what he's trying to say.
"You mean Genesis?...What about her?"
"Well you do know that I've had Ginger-"
I interrupt."Genesis."
He nods slowly."Yes...I've had her for quite some time and over the years I've noticed that her feelings towards men have increased to an incredible amount."
I scratch my head."I'm sorry. I'm not completely understanding what your trying to say."
Mr. Harcko clears his throat and sits up straight in his chair, making that creaking sound."What I'm trying to say is...I'm not sure if Totter is real."
I furrow in a skeptical way."Mr. Harcko what are you talking about?"
"...I don't think Totter is real. As in he could be just make believe..."
I shake my head."Pardon my language, but you might be confused. Totter is real, she showed me a picture of him."
"And what was the description that she gave him? She informed me that he had dark red hair, just a little darker than hers."
I was totally stunned and confused."But she told me- well she showed me that he had black hair with blue ends...Are you sure were talking about the same guy?"
His eyes shift to his computer."Yes I'm positive. About an year ago, she sent a picture of a guy and her to friends phone saying 'Were official' and his name was Totter as well. But on the picture he had dark red hair."
I tap my fingers on the desk slowly."This isn't making sense...So why aren't other people saying anything about it?"
"Because your the only one that knows the other Totter, you got here late so she was able to tell you a different story. Everyone else only knows about the guy she posted on her Hipster account. The red head Totter."
"So your telling me that she made up 2 Totters. Red head Totter, the that everyone is aware of and the other Totter, The black haired with blue tips, only for me?"
He nods."Exactly."
A moment passes...I'm still not understanding."Okay...So is the red headed Totter real or-"
"No he isn't. It was just some random guy she took a picture with at a Christmas party and he had the red hair for the party." Great. Just great. More drama to add to my dish. As if I didn't have enough things to think about.
"Well, why would she make up something like this?"
He spins his chair, and stands up to walk over to the door."Loneliness, desperation, popularity...No one really knows why people make up things like that..." He puts his hand on the doorknob, but stops as soon as he grips it."...I'm not even sure if they know why they do it."
He then opens the door and allows the students that have been patiently waiting at the door inside the silent classroom. I stand up to take my leave to the office, but I stop right in front of Mr. Harcko after all of the students have walked through the doorway."Why did you decide to tell me all of this?"
He looks around and tells me to walk outside the classroom. I follow as he says and step out, he occupies the class by telling them copy down the lesson on the board. He steps out and shuts the door softly. The click echoes down the hall. He walks to the left side of the door and gestures for me to stand in front of him."...I know how much you enjoy helping your friends out when they are in a time of need, but however I don't think that it was one of those situations. It was more like a trap to see who would fall for it."
"I put my bag over my head on onto the other shoulder. My hands grasp the strap that went across my chest."...Like bait?"
"Yes. Look I don't know if anyone else has caught onto her 'Tricks' but I've noticed countless times of new students that would come into our classroom, that she would attempt to try this on them. Unfortunately, your the first one who has stayed around this long."
"What do you mean?"
"All of the other young men found girlfriends and they would stop talking to her..." He sighs and shakes his head in disappointment."It's been so long since she's tried this, so I assumed that she had come to her senses. But I can see she's playing this game again."
I look up at him, still disillusioned and in awe."What exactly is this game that she's playing?"
"...She pretends as if she's just broken up with her boyfriend over an argument about who to pick. And during that time, how could you not believe her? All of the girls were crazy over..." He shakes his head in disgust."...Me. Which made it even more easier to believe. So she cries and cries about the situation making the guy try and comfort her. And in the midst of you doing that, she shocks you and turns around and betrays you...Possibly with a dark secret. Did you tell her anything?"
I close my eyes and try to think...I don't recall letting her know anything huge-...And that's when it hit me. I had led her onto to some things but she wasn't exactly sure or not if they were true. Things like Zius..." She suspects some things but I haven't told her whether or not they were true."
He drops his head and sighs."Listen, don't get on her bad side." He lifts his head back up."If she finds out at least one dark secret then it won't be pleasant...Please be safe."
He pats my shoulders and walks around me to continue his class. I was left in the hall, stuck, confused and bit overwhelmed and terrified. Why the fuck me?...Mother this is the time in my life where I need you. And I mean- really really need you...
